It was a typical afternoon at Canning Town station in East London. Commuters shuffled through the bustle of the Underground, unaware that something small — and silent — was waiting near one of the station entrances. Inside a modest pet carrier, tucked just out of sight in an alleyway, sat a brown and white guinea pig. A handwritten note taped to the carrier read, “I need a new owner.”
The scene was simple. But the weight of those seven words stopped people in their tracks.
Transport for London staff discovered the carrier around 4:20 p.m. on February 18 and alerted authorities. There were no CCTV cameras nearby, and no one in sight to claim responsibility. The guinea pig was alone, without food, water, or another animal for company. Yet, he appeared clean and in good health — young, tufty-haired, and gently alert. RSPCA inspector Shahnaz Ahmad was called to the scene and took the animal into care, BBC News reports.
Photo: RSPCA
A guinea pig was abandoned in a pet carrier at Canning Town station.
A Note, a Name, and a New Chance
The RSPCA gave the guinea pig a new name: DiscoPig. Though his past remains a mystery, his future now looks hopeful.
“He seemed healthy and well cared for,” Ahmad told The Dodo. “It’s very sad that someone has abandoned their pet in this way.”
According to the The Independent, DiscoPig is estimated to be between six months and a year old — still a juvenile in the eyes of any small animal vet. He will soon be available for adoption through the RSPCA, who plan to pair him with a companion.
“Guinea pigs are naturally sociable and normally prefer to be with one or more guinea pigs,” Ahmad told MyLondon. “A guinea pig can develop abnormal behavior and may suffer if they are left without company.”
Photo: RSPCA
A handwritten note taped to the cage read: “I need a new owner.”
A Growing Crisis of Abandonment
DiscoPig’s story, while distressing, isn’t isolated. The RSPCA has been grappling with a wave of pet abandonments as more families struggle with the cost of living.
A survey by PDSA found that 22% of pet owners said the cost of living crisis had directly affected how they care for their animals. Though DiscoPig appeared healthy, many abandoned pets aren’t so lucky. Illness, malnutrition, or exposure often follows neglect.
“We encourage people to reach out to local animal welfare charities for help with pet care, rather than leaving them in a vulnerable situation like this,” Inspector Ahmad told The Standard.
